Conflicting Chaos - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: And She Drags Tenten Along With Her

Tenten couldn’t believe it. ‘She is honestly trying to hook up Sakura, with Neji or Inuzuka no less. I can only imagine how this will turn out.’  Still, she was glad the Hokage had let her in on this. It was her personal opinion (along with all of her friends) that Sakura needed to find a guy for herself. Tsunade just happened to come up with a plan for it.

XxXFlashbackXxX

“Tenten, a very important problem has come to my attention,” said the Hokage as she paced in front of her desk. “Do you know what that problem might be?”

“No, Tsunade-sama.”

“Then I’ll tell you. It would appear that my dear, dear apprentice is regretfully single. I believe that, seeing as she does not seem inclined to find a boyfriend herself, it is up to others, such as ourselves, to do so.”

Tenten couldn’t think of anything to say. She just stared, sure of where Tsunade’s little speech was going.

“That is why I set up this mission the way I did. There is Sakura and the two candidates, Neji and Kiba, stuck together with no choice but to get to know each other. There is Hinata, who is a former teammate of Kiba and a relation to Neji, so she will know how to handle the two of them. She’ll also be there to provide any emotional support that Sakura-chan might need. Naruto is there to kill two birds with one stone: to help on the mission, and possibly to hook him up with Hinata. He might prove to be a difficulty with finding a boyfriend for Sakura-chan…”

Tenten tried in vain to muffle her laugh with her hand. So true.

“but he’ll keep the boys in line. And that includes any ones that you might run into on your trip.”

“So what do you need me for?” Tenten asked. “You seem to have everything already covered.”

“Ah, but you are absolutely necessary. With Naruto there, Hinata may need some help as well. Not to mention, it would be three boys to two girls, and we can’t have that for such a delicate mission, now can we? You were a teammate of Neji’s, the most difficult of this little team, and will know how best to handle him should something go awry.”

Tenten wasn’t sure anyone could handle Neji when he was in one of those moods, but how much trouble could there be? Tenten obviously hadn’t heard of the Naruto/Neji/Sakura incident yet.

“You’re most important reason for participating, however, is to inform me of everything when you get back. I want to know all the juicy details of my latest matchmaking work.”

Tenten could only imagine what had happened to the last people the Godaime had played matchmaker for. And if they had retained all of their sanity. Honestly, the idea sounded a little farfetched to her to work as well or as smoothly as Tsunade obviously believed it would. Neji certainly wasn’t the easiest person to get along with. At least Sakura had some options…

“Now, any questions?”

“Just one,” said Tenten. “Are there actually any disturbances at the boarder, or is that just a convenient reason to stick the three of them together, which also happens to be a conveniently long distance from the village?”

“You are sharp, I see,” said Tsunade. “Yes, there have in fact been some reports of unusual activity near the boarder. However, it is doubtful that it could be nearly as large a threat as I made out to be, and as doubtful that it is because of Sound.”

“All right then, until I return from the mission,” Tenten said with a bow and left.

XxXendFlashbackXxX

So now, Tenten was on two missions; not only the one her teammates had been assigned, but another, far more dangerous one. It was Mission: Get Sakura a Boyfriend.

……………………

After traveling for several hours, the team decided to stop and make camp. Everything was peaceful (well, as much as can be expected) until there was a small disagreement as to the sleeping arrangements. Or, rather, an absolute refusal.

“I absolutely refuse to share an enclosed space with those two imbeciles,” declared Neji.

“What do you mean, ‘those two imbeciles?!’” demanded Naruto.

“I mean,” said Neji in a bored voice, “that you and Inuzuka are idiots, and I will not be sharing a tent with you.

“What-” spluttered Kiba.

“Must I repeat myself for you? You. Are. Both.-”

“Neji, unless you brought your own tent, there isn’t really anything we can do about it, now is there? Unless you want to sleep in the open…”

“Actually, I was more thinking that they could sleep outside while I took the tent,” Neji replied. “But I foresaw a problem like this, so I packed my own personal tent.”

“Then why are you making such a fuss?” asked Sakura.

“Because it amuses me to watch them splutter,” he answered.

“Hey!-” spluttered Naruto and Kiba in perfect unison.

“I rest my case,” said Neji as he began to pitch his tent.